PTT Chem delays commercial runs at LDPE unit to early Sep

06 August 2010 08:59[Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--PTT Chemical has delayed the commercial production at its new 300,000 tonne/year low density polyethylene (LDPE) plant at Mab Ta Phut, Thailand, by another month to early September, a source close to the company said on Friday.

"It [the company] was unable to start commercial production at the plant in early August as planned due to technical problems,” the source said.

Prior to the latest delay to early August, the commercial production was pushed back to April due to a shortage of ethylene feedstock, the source said.

Ethylene supply was tight at the time as the producer had been running its 1m tonne/year ethane cracker at reduced rates due to a shortage of gas feedstock, the source added.